Editorial Summary

The Shanghai Composite Index fell this afternoon after gaining as much as 48 points in morning trading to end the day unchanged on the day at 2,651.725, while the Shenzhen Composite Index rose 1.06% to close at 784.89 on Wednesday. Trading volume on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges reached RMB 43.563 billion and RMB 21.91 billion, respectively.

Shares of Ping An Insurance (601318.SH, 2318.HK), China Life Insurance (China Life) (601628.SH, 2628.HK, NYSE: LFC) and China Pacific Insurance (Group) Co. Ltd (CPIC) (601601.SH) fell 10%, 5.03% and 2.94%, respectively.

The Shenzhen Stock Exchange has decided not to charge Sichuan companies annual listing fees in 2008, reports Xinhua News Agency. According to the report, that includes 28 main board and five SME board companies. Sichuan enterprises listing later this year will also be exempt from the fees.